Zac Purton will have to be at his best from a wide barrier on Imperial Gallantry, but the backmarker should relish a step up in trip and stands out as the best banker in the middle leg of the Triple Trio at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Paul O'Sullivan's prospect, second-up after an eye-catching return and stepping out over what looks his best trip for now, can provide punters with a solid foundation for an otherwise difficult TT.

Imperial Gallantry had four runs last season and finished fourth three times.

On each occasion, his final sectionals were clearly his best as the then three-year-old showed little gate speed and raced greenly, with only his natural ability taking over in the straight. Two runs at a mile showed he would have no trouble with the distance in the future and that improvement would follow at four.

First-up over 1,400m with Douglas Whyte aboard Imperial Gallantry again was dropped back from gate six and as he crept closer around the turn he was shunted wide, negotiating much of the corner from a position four wide facing the breeze.

Despite the tough task Imperial Gallantry ran home strongly for third, finishing just a neck away from the winner Glacier Blue and with easily the fastest final 400m of the race in 22.76s.

Purton, who rides in Melbourne tomorrow, but returns for Sunday's meeting, now takes over for the suspended Whyte.

A mile where the leaders don't get any breaks is just what Imperial Gallantry needs, and it is what he should get with a couple of speedy front runners engaged.

Sparkling Sword is in form and apprentice Kei Chiong Ka-kei will be bustling along from gate two, with Heart Wood likely to come across to sit outside the leader. Plenty Of Speed and Penglai Xianzi are others that like to sit handy and have the speed to put themselves in the race.

The way Imperial Gallantry hit the line last time out he won't need much help to figure, but a better than steady tempo on the C+3 course certainly won't hurt his chances, particularly with Purton appearing to have little choice but to sit near last early.

Terrific Master has been disappointing, but will once again have market support with Joao Moreira climbing aboard and he should go in, along with Noble De Man (Karis Teetan).

Go with Purton again in the final leg, a highly competitive Class Three straight race, with the Australian jockey reuniting with Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Sky Man.

Sky Man looked as though he would go on with it after a first-up victory took him to the top of Class Three last season, but he struggled to break through with big weights. A dip in the ratings has Sky Man on a kinder mark and yet another good draw in a straight race has the sprinter looking well-placed here.

Lucky Celebrity (Brett Prebble) ran an enormous race over the course and distance last start and while drawn awkwardly again, he can't be left out. Forget Happy Meteor (Neil Callan) even went around last time at the Valley after Callan made a play for the front, but ended up three deep with no cover.

Three horses having their first local starts line up and each of the trio will have their supporters.

Take Mythical Emperor (Keing Yeung Ming-lun) despite the three-year-old being first-up with a solitary trial, his last start was a barnstorming win at Flemington in April. The one trial was outstanding and he is drawn perfectly in 13, from where he can unleash his late sprint along the grandstand rail.

Globe Trotter (Karis Teetan) didn't fare as well at the draw, but has put in two nice trials that indicated a forward showing first-up was a possibility.

In the opening leg, a Class Four 1,400m, Danewin Express (Callan) is in a similar situation to Imperial Gallantry - a horse he finished just ahead of last start - in that he is a backmarker drawn wide and needing some pace into which to run.

It looks as though he will get it as well with a horse that has been acting as a rabbit this season, Born To Win, engaged, and a couple of others that will want to be forward.

In a weak race that could easily produce an upset, include Motif (Purton), Raging Bull (Nash Rawiller) and Hang's Decision (Prebble).